STZ - Chapter 1
Severing The Zeppo
BtVS/HP crossover fic
Alexander LaVelle Harris sat on a desk chair lazily spinning himself around. England, he thought, randomly kicking the chair into motion, the land of tea, (kick) crumpets (kick), Giles' assorted garments made solely of tweed (kick . . . kick), and a magic school; a magic school where he, the skater boy and dork of SunnyHell High, wanted to be taught. Oh! Thought Xander, stopping the chair, I can be myself! No more dork! No more below average grades! No more clothing that rivaled Giles in the realm of hideousness.
"'ey! Whelp! We got somethin’ for ya." Xander, startled out of his mindless contemplation of the twists his life would take, looked out the window from his bedroom in the loft of his parents house and saw Spike and Dru standing outside.
"Be right out." He yelled through the screen before sliding downstairs. Stepping outside, he saw the two Vampires standing next to the tree that ran up to his room. "Will, Dru, over here."
“Hey whelp, told ya not to call me Will."
Xander grinned unrepentedly at them before grabbing Spike and giving him a hug followed by a brief kiss. "So, what'd you get me?" Xander asked, pulling away from Spike and eagerly bouncing on the balls of his feet.
"Ohh!" cooed Dru, "The nicest things for my Kitten. Ms. Edith told me what you wanted." Dru held out the box which had been sitting behind the Bleached Wonder and handed it to Xander. ‘Kitten’ grabbed it and opened the box, only to stop and stare at the black leather pants and blood red silk shirt.
"Oh, wow." Murmured Xander slowly caressing the sumptuous fabrics, remembering how they had felt against his naked skin during prom, "Thank you." He managed to shake off the awe and throw them both a disarming grin. "So, I'll change and then to the Bronze?" The two vamps smiled and Xander tore away to put on his new attire.
To say that the leather and silk was an improvement would be an understatement. The pants clung to him like a fledgling to an artery, accentuating long legs and a nicely round behind; the shirt made the vamps want to run their hands down it. It also nicely framed the muscles he had received from his construction work. His shoulder length hair completed the look; well, that combined with the wicked grin Xander wore, which let them know he liked the look. The whelp was sex on legs.
"So," Xander asked casually as Spike drove them to the Bronze, "you two fed?" at the startled looks he received Xander rolled his eyes, "What? I don't want you taking bites out of my friends. Harmony and her group, yes, please ... my friends? Fangs off." Dru and Spiked laughed as Xander stated this.
"Yes, we fed. Bloody bagged, err, blood."
"Yes, I know, no fear in the blood means it doesn't taste good . . . only I would find myself surrounded by bloody picky vampires." His quip was met with two vamped out vampires.
"Hey! Sheathe the fangs." Xander rolled his eyes again for good measure before exiting from driver-side rear of the car and brushing a stray piece of (invisible) lint off his shirt. He walked up to the doorman, paid the cover for the three of them, and walked inside to the would-be club.
Dru and Spike sat down while he went in search of Buffy. Seeing her standing in line to order drinks, he slid up behind her and spoke directly in her ear, "So, is that a stake in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?" Buffy whirled around, fist raised, and saw Xander standing there.
"So, who are you and what have you done with Xander?"
"I am Xander," He said pretending to be hurt, "I'm just in clothing that wasn’t born in the Goodwill Bargain Bin."
"Ah, as long as you don't go all 'grr' on me, we're good." Xander smiled and then spotted a familiar face enter The Bronze. "Excuse me, my lady, it appears that I have someone I desperately need to annoy." With that, Xander walked over to the Watcher.
"So. . ." He murmured, sliding up to Wesley, "come here often?" He slid one finger down the man's face. Wesley went bright red.
"I'll have you know that I am here on official Watcher business."
"MmmmHmm," He moved closer to Wesley and the hand moved down the Watchers arm, "Why don't you use that sexy voice to whisper in my ear what you want with the Slayers." Xander's hand pushed on the small of Wesley's back moving him closer to his body.
"I… I don't think yo- you're ma.making ap.p.p.ropiate sug.g.g.gestions, Mr. Harris."
"Define appropriate, Mr. Wyndham-Price." Xander moved his mouth to the other man's ear, nibbling on it slightly. Horrified, Wesley jumped back with a squeak and fled the Bronze, apparently forgetting whatever it was he wanted to speak to Buffy and/or Faith about.
"Whoa, that was the creepiest thing I've seen yet, hot stuff." Xander turned and saw Faith standing behind him."Xander?"
"'ello Faith." Xander glanced at her hands and saw her holding a Diet Coke and grabbing it took a quick swig of the bubbling liquid. "Ahh, no more Essence of Wesley." Faith broke out of her stupor and into a grin.
“So,” Faith purred, “why are the pretty ones always after guys?”
Xander raised an eyebrow, “Because, they just have all the right equipment.” Xander waggled his eyebrows suggestively.
“Hey! I could have the right equipment. All I’d need to do is visit my friendly neighborhood porn store . . . or break into Willow’s house. The horny vixen.”
“Sorry babe, but I like to be in control. Two tops do not make a bottom.”
"Damn, so, please tell me you weren't just seriously flirting with Wes."
Xander grinned, "Nah, just fun to push his buttons."
Faith raised an eyebrow, "Uh-huh, and those would be which buttons, Xan?" Xander groaned and whapped Faith upside the head.
"No, no, no, no, no." Xander muttered over and over again and occasionally adding something about bad mental places, images, and ways to torture and murder Faith. A can of pam and a lighter came up a few times as well.
They left the Bronze at a quarter 'til one and Xander decided to crash with Dru and Spike that night, he didn't want to go through the potential physical agony of accidentally waking his (probably) very intoxicated 'father'. Spike drove to the flat and Xander stumbled wearily in, falling into the bed which was always ready for him. Some time later, in the middle of the night (but technically the next day with the sun almost ready to rise), Dru slipped in and curled next to Xander, falling contentedly asleep. When her 'kitten' awoke, he smiled, brushed a kiss on the top of her head, and pulled her closer to his side before falling back to sleep.
A day turned in to a week and a week in to a month and soon it was time for Xander to leave for England. His supplies were packed and shrunk, his vamp family on a boat to London (they decided not to Portkey across), and Angelus was awaiting his arrival on the other end of the portkey which would take him to London.
He landed with a crash and, glancing around, saw Angelus standing a few feet away, wearing an amused smirk. "Graceful."
Xander bowed, then stepped forward and gave Angelus a hug. "I missed you, old man."
Angelus smiled at hearing those words from Xander. “I missed you too. Willow," he nodded politely to the woman who accompanied Xander, "good to see you looking so well."
"And you, Angelus. I fear Headmaster Dumbledore is expecting me so I have to go. Is your fire connected to the floo system?" Angelus nodded and in a green flash Willow had vanished through the floo system.
Angelus's first order of business was to send Xander to Diagon Alley. He explained how to get to the Leaky Cauldron, gave Xander wizard money (much, much, more than he would need) with orders to spend as much as he wanted on whatever he wanted and necessary items; he also explained how the money worked and how much it was worth. The nice thing about having lived for over 200 years was that you got very good at investing your money and never needed to worry over something so petty.
Xander walked in to the Leaky Cauldron, his eyes were constantly searching the room, warily watching the various species of clientele. So good had he become at blending in that he walked through the pub with only the occasional sideways glance in his direction. Xander stopped outside to the wall, tapped the appropriate bricks, and was presented with his first view of Diagon Alley.
"Cool." He murmured as the wall moved away. He stepped through the newly opened wall and proceeded to wander around the alley. Xander's first stop was Olivanders, he had brought his own core.
"Here is a face forgotten to many." The aged blue eyed wand maker said softly.
"Mr. Olivander."
"Mr. Snape, I thought I would never see you in my store."
Xander smiled, "Call me Xander, Harris. I am here to acquire a wand with certain sensitive core materials."
"And what materials are these?" He asked curiously.
Xander pulled out two small vials. "The first holds hairs of the Vampire Slayers braided with the hair of the Vampire Angelus." Olivander looked sharply at Xander.
"The hair of Angelus?"
"Yes."
"Obtaining such a thing would seem an impossibility, would you mind telling me where you found it?"
"Oh," Xander smirked, "I pulled it out of his head this morning, man is he grouchy in the morning."
"I see . . .” The store keeper was, as it always seemed, unphased, “and what does the other bottle contain?"
"A centering crystal. I thought it could be inserted into the base of the wand."
"What would you use for wood?" Olivander tensed upon mentioning this.
"I thought that was where the wand maker established his craft; as the expert, I am sure you would know far better than I what to use, it is not for me to choose." At this the other man relaxed and nodded.
"You are well learned. I will owl you when I have finished crafting it."
Xander bowed deeply, "I am most that honored you will create my wand." So saying, he left a deposit for the wand and departed the store.
His next stop was the Apothecary, the local potions store; he replenished all of his stores (plus some), acquired several caldrons of differing density, and a nice set of instruments (good potions instruments were extremely difficult to locate in Sunnydale), he also bought a subscription to Potions: The Art of Brewing, a potentially good investment.
He then walked to Madame Malkins and bought an assortment of robes, cloaks, muggle looking pants and shirts (in silk and leather), and anything else he could possibly need.
Flourish and Blotts came next, along with an absurd amount of money spent on all sorts of books, Transfiguration, Charms, Potions (of course), Wizarding Etiquette, Hexes, Curses and how to break them, histories on the Dark Arts and the evolution of hexes, and some books which really cannot be described. The book seller promised to send the books back to the flat he was staying in with Angelus.
Exhausted, Xander booked a room in the Leaky Cauldron and fell asleep after owling Angelus and letting him know what he was doing, sending him all of his purchases, and grouching about how inflated the prices were on “school books”. He now thoroughly understood why students abhorred University Bookstores.
The next day dawned with Xander ready to go home when he received an owl from Olivander telling him to come and collect his wand.
"Ah, Mr. Sn - err Harris, come in." When Xander entered the door shut magically. "No need to be alarmed, just ensuring outside ears do not pry."
"You finished my wand?"
"Indeed I did, stayed up all night completing it. Took me four hours to find the proper wood, it was actually sent by someone named Mr. Pointy." At this Xander broke out into laughter.
"Tell me, was it in the shape of a stake?"
"Yes, it was. In fact I found the wood coated in the ashes of many vampires. Your core chose this wood."
Xander smiled, "That’s a slayer’s stake and has been on the Hellmouth for several years, where all the elements of the wand once resided." Enlightenment dawned in the other mans eyes.
"I see. Take good care of it Mr. Harris. I have no doubt you will be surprising many, many, people.
Xander bowed, "I intend to." He passed over a large sum for the wand and exited both the building and the alley.
Xander was a grad student, therefore he arrived at Hogwarts two days before the normal students. Each of the dozen or so graduate students would be arriving separately, because of time differences. His first look at the school was from the lake, which a friendly half-giant named Hagrid was taking him across. Xander was wearing muggle clothing, having decided to save his robes for once other students inhabited the castle.
Upon stepping into the castle, Xander's eyes lit up with excitement. "The portraits, they move!"
"I do?." One of the muttered, "I never noticed." Xander laughed and walked towards it.
"Hello."
"Pleasure to make your acquaintance, I am Merlin."
"I am Xander." Feeling slightly foolish Xander bowed and then began studying the building that was Hogwarts. "Amazing work."
"Yes, the founders did wonderful work on the structure." Xander nodded in agreement closely inspecting the building. He placed his hand on the wall and felt the heat of magic coming from the structure. It seemed to be leading somewhere and Xander, curiously albeit warily, followed it into the depths of the dungeon. As he walked his fingers caressed the walls, moving away only for the sake of the paintings. Xander stopped and talked to many of the paintings, winning them over with his sense of humor, and willingness to chat with pictures.
The path stopped at a painting. This one did not smile at Xander, only glared, "Who are you?"
Xander raised an eyebrow in amusement, "Graduate student."
"Not what, who."
"Perhaps I should be asking you that."
The painting laughed in genuine amusement, "Salazar Slytherin, one of the founders of Hogwarts."
"I am Alexander Harris, Scooby." Salazar had a confused look on his face because of this term, but before he could speak the portrait swung open, forcing Xander to step backwards.
"What are you doing outside my rooms?" A cold and callous voice asked. As the voice stepped outside of the doorway, Xander got the impression of black robes, greasy hair, a smirk, and a nose.
"Chatting, with Mr. Slytherin."
"I… see… I assume you are one of the new graduate students?"
"You know what they say when you assume… it makes an ass out of you and me. But, in this case, you’re correct." Xander bowed, "Alexander Harris."
"Ah, the American."
"You make American sound so foul. As entertaining as this meeting has been, I fear," Xander added looking at a non-existent watch, "That I am due to meet Headmaster Dumbledore." Xander bowed again before bidding ado to Slytherin (who instructed Xander to call him Salazar) and, picking up the correct strand of magic in the walls, let it lead him to the dining hall.
“Do you even know where the Great Hall is, Mr. Harris?”
“Err…” Xander shrugged and pointed a random direction, “that way?”
The potions master sighed and showed the boy to the Great Hall
Xander found the Headmaster both funny and wise, a lethal combination (he had learned that the hard way from Buffy). But Xander didn't have a Slytherin and a Vampire for fathers for nothing; he managed to proceed through his conversation with Dumbledore without telling him anything important about himself, meaning that Buffy and Angelus were never mentioned. They discussed the classes he would take (DADA, Potions, Transfigurations, Divination, Arithmancy, and others). He also spoke with his father. The man was snarky, cagey, rude, abrasive, and on the whole reminded Xander of a vampire. Finally, Xander was shown to the graduate student's common room.
Each grad student was given their own small suite that included a joined bedroom/sitting room and their own washroom. As Xander unpacked, he pulled out pictures of the Sunnydale crowd, Cordy (who’d left the year before to study in LA), Willow, Buffy and Giles, and drawings of Angelus, Spike, and Dru, these were all hung carefully on the walls. His clothing was hung up and he crawled into his bed and fell asleep. He was awakened by a voice outside his rooms.
"Mr. Harris."
"Huh?" Xander blinked and got up to open the door. "Professor." Xander stepped back to allow him admittance, the old Sunnydale rule of never inviting anyone into your room stuck hard.
"The Headmaster asked me to come and collect you for dinner in the Great Hall."
"Ah." Xander stretched, smothering a yawn. Snape looked around the room. The pictures on the wall drew his notice.
"Do you know who this is?"
Xander glanced at the picture Snape was referring to. "Yup. Angelus, vampire, likes blood, kills people. Mmmm, blood."
"Ah, you know him?"
Xander looked at the professor and smirked, "That blood-sucking fiend? Yeah, well, actually know would be a tad strong. He almost killed me once." Of course Xander had Buffy beat Angelus into submission before the Vampire would feed from him and use his magic to heal himself.
"And you hang his picture on your wall."
"Actually, it's a drawing which was left on my pillow one night." Xander shrugged, "It's a reminder that appearances can be deceiving." Xander motioned to his door and the two left in silence for the dining hall.
"So," the Headmaster asked over dinner that night, "Alexander, Miss Rosenburg tells me she knows you, how did you two meet?"
"Err, you see, I kinda, accidently snuck up on her late one night in the Chem lab and she got startled and turned me into a newt."
Everyone, save the Willow, looked at him, and Snape asked, somewhat incredulously, “A newt?”
Xander glanced down at his hands turning them over then shrugged bashfully, "I got better." Willow snorted in laughter. Xander glanced at Willow, "You have to admit Wills, undoing transfiguration is not your forte." Willow glared, Xander coughed something that sounded remarkably like "Amy", and Willow blushed.
After dinner he and the other students present were introduced to the Sorting Hat, which was placed on each grad students head, although they would not be sorted into houses. The idea behind the grad students was that they would live all together, in harmony.
“Hello Mr. Hat,”
“Hello, Mr…..Snape?”
“Well, that’s what they told me, but nobody’s proved it yet! Call me Xander, or Mr. Harris if you call me at all.”
“Don’t worry, your secrets will remain just that, secret. Now, to business: You are a strange one, raised by darkness, you would have been good in Slytherin, dangerous events, vampires, Gryffindor would have loved you, the Wisdom for Ravenclaw, and the loyalty of a Hufflepuff, I would have had fun sorting you. Haven’t had a good challenge in ages!”
“Huh, so do I sit here and listen to you mumble?”
“Many before you have.”
“I don’t stand much by tradition.”
“And yet you are a pureblood.”
“Raised in the muggle world.”
“Technicalities.”
“So is the term pureblood.” If hats could laugh, this one did.
“Oh,” It chuckled, “I like you. Be sure to visit again sometime soon, Mr. Harris.”
Xander met with the other grad students who had shown up, and he quickly found he had more in common with the teachers than the students. Many students had hardly even heard of Vampires and Demons, let only killed any. He pretty much ignored them and before he knew it the time had come for the castle to be filled with other students, and his first witnessing of a sorting to begin.
Xander and the other grad students were showed to the new "grad student" table. They were to receive no house patch, instead they wore the house crest and black robes lined with more black.
Students soon started filtering in and Xander saw a relation of his, Draco Malfoy. He was related to Malfoy on his mother’s side. His mother had been related Lucius Malfoy, one of his cousins.
Finally, the first years were admitted to the Great Hall. Xander watched as the sorting hat was placed on a small stool. Finally it spoke:
Good God I must be getting old,
Five tables in the hall?
New students added to this school,
Although in numbers small.
Among this lot are Gryffindors,
The brave, the bold, and true
There are a few from Slytherin,
Who value old not new.
There is but one from Helga's house,
Whose loyalty’s unmatched,
And yet some would be Ravenclaws,
Whose books are old and patched.
Yet in these houses they'll not live,
Four houses housed as one,
They’ll put aside their differences,
Until this year is done.
Take heed now, all, how they combine,
In friendship, love, and trust,
These lessons are for out of school,
When allies are a must.
Strange happenings are coming near,
Which may take us aback,
But let us get some sorting done,
Before this hat is sacked!
Xander clapped with the rest of the student body, having enjoyed the Hat’s song. Slowly names were called and new students put it on and were sorted. Before too long everyone was assigned a house and the feast, after a few words from Dumbledore, commenced.
After dinner, Xander walked back to his rooms, while the other grad student stayed and chatted with the new first years. To his surprise, three students planted themselves right in his path.
"Draco Malfoy."
Xander raised a brow at the rude introduction. "I don't remember asking."
Draco looked at him, his face revealing his shock at the dismissal.
Xander shook his head in annoyance. "Would you please move?"
Draco smirked, "American are we?"
"Obviously you aren't American, therefore 'we' aren't."
“Trite.” Xander rolled his eyes and tried to move past them. “Wait, you never told me your name.”
“I know,” Xander said.
Draco held out his arm to stop Xander from passing but magic quickly lifted him out of the way.
“Draco, let me make something very, very clear. I make a very bad enemy and a very good friend. So, do yourself a favor, Grow Up.” That said, Xander turned and walked away as Draco was magically lowered to the ground, very slowly.
Continue to Chapter 2: The Morning After
BtVS/HP crossover fic
Alexander LaVelle Harris sat on a desk chair lazily spinning himself around. England, he thought, randomly kicking the chair into motion, the land of tea, (kick) crumpets (kick), Giles' assorted garments made solely of tweed (kick . . . kick), and a magic school; a magic school where he, the skater boy and dork of SunnyHell High, wanted to be taught. Oh! Thought Xander, stopping the chair, I can be myself! No more dork! No more below average grades! No more clothing that rivaled Giles in the realm of hideousness.
"'ey! Whelp! We got somethin’ for ya." Xander, startled out of his mindless contemplation of the twists his life would take, looked out the window from his bedroom in the loft of his parents house and saw Spike and Dru standing outside.
"Be right out." He yelled through the screen before sliding downstairs. Stepping outside, he saw the two Vampires standing next to the tree that ran up to his room. "Will, Dru, over here."
“Hey whelp, told ya not to call me Will."
Xander grinned unrepentedly at them before grabbing Spike and giving him a hug followed by a brief kiss. "So, what'd you get me?" Xander asked, pulling away from Spike and eagerly bouncing on the balls of his feet.
"Ohh!" cooed Dru, "The nicest things for my Kitten. Ms. Edith told me what you wanted." Dru held out the box which had been sitting behind the Bleached Wonder and handed it to Xander. ‘Kitten’ grabbed it and opened the box, only to stop and stare at the black leather pants and blood red silk shirt.
"Oh, wow." Murmured Xander slowly caressing the sumptuous fabrics, remembering how they had felt against his naked skin during prom, "Thank you." He managed to shake off the awe and throw them both a disarming grin. "So, I'll change and then to the Bronze?" The two vamps smiled and Xander tore away to put on his new attire.
To say that the leather and silk was an improvement would be an understatement. The pants clung to him like a fledgling to an artery, accentuating long legs and a nicely round behind; the shirt made the vamps want to run their hands down it. It also nicely framed the muscles he had received from his construction work. His shoulder length hair completed the look; well, that combined with the wicked grin Xander wore, which let them know he liked the look. The whelp was sex on legs.
"So," Xander asked casually as Spike drove them to the Bronze, "you two fed?" at the startled looks he received Xander rolled his eyes, "What? I don't want you taking bites out of my friends. Harmony and her group, yes, please ... my friends? Fangs off." Dru and Spiked laughed as Xander stated this.
"Yes, we fed. Bloody bagged, err, blood."
"Yes, I know, no fear in the blood means it doesn't taste good . . . only I would find myself surrounded by bloody picky vampires." His quip was met with two vamped out vampires.
"Hey! Sheathe the fangs." Xander rolled his eyes again for good measure before exiting from driver-side rear of the car and brushing a stray piece of (invisible) lint off his shirt. He walked up to the doorman, paid the cover for the three of them, and walked inside to the would-be club.
Dru and Spike sat down while he went in search of Buffy. Seeing her standing in line to order drinks, he slid up behind her and spoke directly in her ear, "So, is that a stake in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?" Buffy whirled around, fist raised, and saw Xander standing there.
"So, who are you and what have you done with Xander?"
"I am Xander," He said pretending to be hurt, "I'm just in clothing that wasn’t born in the Goodwill Bargain Bin."
"Ah, as long as you don't go all 'grr' on me, we're good." Xander smiled and then spotted a familiar face enter The Bronze. "Excuse me, my lady, it appears that I have someone I desperately need to annoy." With that, Xander walked over to the Watcher.
"So. . ." He murmured, sliding up to Wesley, "come here often?" He slid one finger down the man's face. Wesley went bright red.
"I'll have you know that I am here on official Watcher business."
"MmmmHmm," He moved closer to Wesley and the hand moved down the Watchers arm, "Why don't you use that sexy voice to whisper in my ear what you want with the Slayers." Xander's hand pushed on the small of Wesley's back moving him closer to his body.
"I… I don't think yo- you're ma.making ap.p.p.ropiate sug.g.g.gestions, Mr. Harris."
"Define appropriate, Mr. Wyndham-Price." Xander moved his mouth to the other man's ear, nibbling on it slightly. Horrified, Wesley jumped back with a squeak and fled the Bronze, apparently forgetting whatever it was he wanted to speak to Buffy and/or Faith about.
"Whoa, that was the creepiest thing I've seen yet, hot stuff." Xander turned and saw Faith standing behind him."Xander?"
"'ello Faith." Xander glanced at her hands and saw her holding a Diet Coke and grabbing it took a quick swig of the bubbling liquid. "Ahh, no more Essence of Wesley." Faith broke out of her stupor and into a grin.
“So,” Faith purred, “why are the pretty ones always after guys?”
Xander raised an eyebrow, “Because, they just have all the right equipment.” Xander waggled his eyebrows suggestively.
“Hey! I could have the right equipment. All I’d need to do is visit my friendly neighborhood porn store . . . or break into Willow’s house. The horny vixen.”
“Sorry babe, but I like to be in control. Two tops do not make a bottom.”
"Damn, so, please tell me you weren't just seriously flirting with Wes."
Xander grinned, "Nah, just fun to push his buttons."
Faith raised an eyebrow, "Uh-huh, and those would be which buttons, Xan?" Xander groaned and whapped Faith upside the head.
"No, no, no, no, no." Xander muttered over and over again and occasionally adding something about bad mental places, images, and ways to torture and murder Faith. A can of pam and a lighter came up a few times as well.
They left the Bronze at a quarter 'til one and Xander decided to crash with Dru and Spike that night, he didn't want to go through the potential physical agony of accidentally waking his (probably) very intoxicated 'father'. Spike drove to the flat and Xander stumbled wearily in, falling into the bed which was always ready for him. Some time later, in the middle of the night (but technically the next day with the sun almost ready to rise), Dru slipped in and curled next to Xander, falling contentedly asleep. When her 'kitten' awoke, he smiled, brushed a kiss on the top of her head, and pulled her closer to his side before falling back to sleep.
A day turned in to a week and a week in to a month and soon it was time for Xander to leave for England. His supplies were packed and shrunk, his vamp family on a boat to London (they decided not to Portkey across), and Angelus was awaiting his arrival on the other end of the portkey which would take him to London.
He landed with a crash and, glancing around, saw Angelus standing a few feet away, wearing an amused smirk. "Graceful."
Xander bowed, then stepped forward and gave Angelus a hug. "I missed you, old man."
Angelus smiled at hearing those words from Xander. “I missed you too. Willow," he nodded politely to the woman who accompanied Xander, "good to see you looking so well."
"And you, Angelus. I fear Headmaster Dumbledore is expecting me so I have to go. Is your fire connected to the floo system?" Angelus nodded and in a green flash Willow had vanished through the floo system.
Angelus's first order of business was to send Xander to Diagon Alley. He explained how to get to the Leaky Cauldron, gave Xander wizard money (much, much, more than he would need) with orders to spend as much as he wanted on whatever he wanted and necessary items; he also explained how the money worked and how much it was worth. The nice thing about having lived for over 200 years was that you got very good at investing your money and never needed to worry over something so petty.
Xander walked in to the Leaky Cauldron, his eyes were constantly searching the room, warily watching the various species of clientele. So good had he become at blending in that he walked through the pub with only the occasional sideways glance in his direction. Xander stopped outside to the wall, tapped the appropriate bricks, and was presented with his first view of Diagon Alley.
"Cool." He murmured as the wall moved away. He stepped through the newly opened wall and proceeded to wander around the alley. Xander's first stop was Olivanders, he had brought his own core.
"Here is a face forgotten to many." The aged blue eyed wand maker said softly.
"Mr. Olivander."
"Mr. Snape, I thought I would never see you in my store."
Xander smiled, "Call me Xander, Harris. I am here to acquire a wand with certain sensitive core materials."
"And what materials are these?" He asked curiously.
Xander pulled out two small vials. "The first holds hairs of the Vampire Slayers braided with the hair of the Vampire Angelus." Olivander looked sharply at Xander.
"The hair of Angelus?"
"Yes."
"Obtaining such a thing would seem an impossibility, would you mind telling me where you found it?"
"Oh," Xander smirked, "I pulled it out of his head this morning, man is he grouchy in the morning."
"I see . . .” The store keeper was, as it always seemed, unphased, “and what does the other bottle contain?"
"A centering crystal. I thought it could be inserted into the base of the wand."
"What would you use for wood?" Olivander tensed upon mentioning this.
"I thought that was where the wand maker established his craft; as the expert, I am sure you would know far better than I what to use, it is not for me to choose." At this the other man relaxed and nodded.
"You are well learned. I will owl you when I have finished crafting it."
Xander bowed deeply, "I am most that honored you will create my wand." So saying, he left a deposit for the wand and departed the store.
His next stop was the Apothecary, the local potions store; he replenished all of his stores (plus some), acquired several caldrons of differing density, and a nice set of instruments (good potions instruments were extremely difficult to locate in Sunnydale), he also bought a subscription to Potions: The Art of Brewing, a potentially good investment.
He then walked to Madame Malkins and bought an assortment of robes, cloaks, muggle looking pants and shirts (in silk and leather), and anything else he could possibly need.
Flourish and Blotts came next, along with an absurd amount of money spent on all sorts of books, Transfiguration, Charms, Potions (of course), Wizarding Etiquette, Hexes, Curses and how to break them, histories on the Dark Arts and the evolution of hexes, and some books which really cannot be described. The book seller promised to send the books back to the flat he was staying in with Angelus.
Exhausted, Xander booked a room in the Leaky Cauldron and fell asleep after owling Angelus and letting him know what he was doing, sending him all of his purchases, and grouching about how inflated the prices were on “school books”. He now thoroughly understood why students abhorred University Bookstores.
The next day dawned with Xander ready to go home when he received an owl from Olivander telling him to come and collect his wand.
"Ah, Mr. Sn - err Harris, come in." When Xander entered the door shut magically. "No need to be alarmed, just ensuring outside ears do not pry."
"You finished my wand?"
"Indeed I did, stayed up all night completing it. Took me four hours to find the proper wood, it was actually sent by someone named Mr. Pointy." At this Xander broke out into laughter.
"Tell me, was it in the shape of a stake?"
"Yes, it was. In fact I found the wood coated in the ashes of many vampires. Your core chose this wood."
Xander smiled, "That’s a slayer’s stake and has been on the Hellmouth for several years, where all the elements of the wand once resided." Enlightenment dawned in the other mans eyes.
"I see. Take good care of it Mr. Harris. I have no doubt you will be surprising many, many, people.
Xander bowed, "I intend to." He passed over a large sum for the wand and exited both the building and the alley.
Xander was a grad student, therefore he arrived at Hogwarts two days before the normal students. Each of the dozen or so graduate students would be arriving separately, because of time differences. His first look at the school was from the lake, which a friendly half-giant named Hagrid was taking him across. Xander was wearing muggle clothing, having decided to save his robes for once other students inhabited the castle.
Upon stepping into the castle, Xander's eyes lit up with excitement. "The portraits, they move!"
"I do?." One of the muttered, "I never noticed." Xander laughed and walked towards it.
"Hello."
"Pleasure to make your acquaintance, I am Merlin."
"I am Xander." Feeling slightly foolish Xander bowed and then began studying the building that was Hogwarts. "Amazing work."
"Yes, the founders did wonderful work on the structure." Xander nodded in agreement closely inspecting the building. He placed his hand on the wall and felt the heat of magic coming from the structure. It seemed to be leading somewhere and Xander, curiously albeit warily, followed it into the depths of the dungeon. As he walked his fingers caressed the walls, moving away only for the sake of the paintings. Xander stopped and talked to many of the paintings, winning them over with his sense of humor, and willingness to chat with pictures.
The path stopped at a painting. This one did not smile at Xander, only glared, "Who are you?"
Xander raised an eyebrow in amusement, "Graduate student."
"Not what, who."
"Perhaps I should be asking you that."
The painting laughed in genuine amusement, "Salazar Slytherin, one of the founders of Hogwarts."
"I am Alexander Harris, Scooby." Salazar had a confused look on his face because of this term, but before he could speak the portrait swung open, forcing Xander to step backwards.
"What are you doing outside my rooms?" A cold and callous voice asked. As the voice stepped outside of the doorway, Xander got the impression of black robes, greasy hair, a smirk, and a nose.
"Chatting, with Mr. Slytherin."
"I… see… I assume you are one of the new graduate students?"
"You know what they say when you assume… it makes an ass out of you and me. But, in this case, you’re correct." Xander bowed, "Alexander Harris."
"Ah, the American."
"You make American sound so foul. As entertaining as this meeting has been, I fear," Xander added looking at a non-existent watch, "That I am due to meet Headmaster Dumbledore." Xander bowed again before bidding ado to Slytherin (who instructed Xander to call him Salazar) and, picking up the correct strand of magic in the walls, let it lead him to the dining hall.
“Do you even know where the Great Hall is, Mr. Harris?”
“Err…” Xander shrugged and pointed a random direction, “that way?”
The potions master sighed and showed the boy to the Great Hall
Xander found the Headmaster both funny and wise, a lethal combination (he had learned that the hard way from Buffy). But Xander didn't have a Slytherin and a Vampire for fathers for nothing; he managed to proceed through his conversation with Dumbledore without telling him anything important about himself, meaning that Buffy and Angelus were never mentioned. They discussed the classes he would take (DADA, Potions, Transfigurations, Divination, Arithmancy, and others). He also spoke with his father. The man was snarky, cagey, rude, abrasive, and on the whole reminded Xander of a vampire. Finally, Xander was shown to the graduate student's common room.
Each grad student was given their own small suite that included a joined bedroom/sitting room and their own washroom. As Xander unpacked, he pulled out pictures of the Sunnydale crowd, Cordy (who’d left the year before to study in LA), Willow, Buffy and Giles, and drawings of Angelus, Spike, and Dru, these were all hung carefully on the walls. His clothing was hung up and he crawled into his bed and fell asleep. He was awakened by a voice outside his rooms.
"Mr. Harris."
"Huh?" Xander blinked and got up to open the door. "Professor." Xander stepped back to allow him admittance, the old Sunnydale rule of never inviting anyone into your room stuck hard.
"The Headmaster asked me to come and collect you for dinner in the Great Hall."
"Ah." Xander stretched, smothering a yawn. Snape looked around the room. The pictures on the wall drew his notice.
"Do you know who this is?"
Xander glanced at the picture Snape was referring to. "Yup. Angelus, vampire, likes blood, kills people. Mmmm, blood."
"Ah, you know him?"
Xander looked at the professor and smirked, "That blood-sucking fiend? Yeah, well, actually know would be a tad strong. He almost killed me once." Of course Xander had Buffy beat Angelus into submission before the Vampire would feed from him and use his magic to heal himself.
"And you hang his picture on your wall."
"Actually, it's a drawing which was left on my pillow one night." Xander shrugged, "It's a reminder that appearances can be deceiving." Xander motioned to his door and the two left in silence for the dining hall.
"So," the Headmaster asked over dinner that night, "Alexander, Miss Rosenburg tells me she knows you, how did you two meet?"
"Err, you see, I kinda, accidently snuck up on her late one night in the Chem lab and she got startled and turned me into a newt."
Everyone, save the Willow, looked at him, and Snape asked, somewhat incredulously, “A newt?”
Xander glanced down at his hands turning them over then shrugged bashfully, "I got better." Willow snorted in laughter. Xander glanced at Willow, "You have to admit Wills, undoing transfiguration is not your forte." Willow glared, Xander coughed something that sounded remarkably like "Amy", and Willow blushed.
After dinner he and the other students present were introduced to the Sorting Hat, which was placed on each grad students head, although they would not be sorted into houses. The idea behind the grad students was that they would live all together, in harmony.
“Hello Mr. Hat,”
“Hello, Mr…..Snape?”
“Well, that’s what they told me, but nobody’s proved it yet! Call me Xander, or Mr. Harris if you call me at all.”
“Don’t worry, your secrets will remain just that, secret. Now, to business: You are a strange one, raised by darkness, you would have been good in Slytherin, dangerous events, vampires, Gryffindor would have loved you, the Wisdom for Ravenclaw, and the loyalty of a Hufflepuff, I would have had fun sorting you. Haven’t had a good challenge in ages!”
“Huh, so do I sit here and listen to you mumble?”
“Many before you have.”
“I don’t stand much by tradition.”
“And yet you are a pureblood.”
“Raised in the muggle world.”
“Technicalities.”
“So is the term pureblood.” If hats could laugh, this one did.
“Oh,” It chuckled, “I like you. Be sure to visit again sometime soon, Mr. Harris.”
Xander met with the other grad students who had shown up, and he quickly found he had more in common with the teachers than the students. Many students had hardly even heard of Vampires and Demons, let only killed any. He pretty much ignored them and before he knew it the time had come for the castle to be filled with other students, and his first witnessing of a sorting to begin.
Xander and the other grad students were showed to the new "grad student" table. They were to receive no house patch, instead they wore the house crest and black robes lined with more black.
Students soon started filtering in and Xander saw a relation of his, Draco Malfoy. He was related to Malfoy on his mother’s side. His mother had been related Lucius Malfoy, one of his cousins.
Finally, the first years were admitted to the Great Hall. Xander watched as the sorting hat was placed on a small stool. Finally it spoke:
Good God I must be getting old,
Five tables in the hall?
New students added to this school,
Although in numbers small.
Among this lot are Gryffindors,
The brave, the bold, and true
There are a few from Slytherin,
Who value old not new.
There is but one from Helga's house,
Whose loyalty’s unmatched,
And yet some would be Ravenclaws,
Whose books are old and patched.
Yet in these houses they'll not live,
Four houses housed as one,
They’ll put aside their differences,
Until this year is done.
Take heed now, all, how they combine,
In friendship, love, and trust,
These lessons are for out of school,
When allies are a must.
Strange happenings are coming near,
Which may take us aback,
But let us get some sorting done,
Before this hat is sacked!
Xander clapped with the rest of the student body, having enjoyed the Hat’s song. Slowly names were called and new students put it on and were sorted. Before too long everyone was assigned a house and the feast, after a few words from Dumbledore, commenced.
After dinner, Xander walked back to his rooms, while the other grad student stayed and chatted with the new first years. To his surprise, three students planted themselves right in his path.
"Draco Malfoy."
Xander raised a brow at the rude introduction. "I don't remember asking."
Draco looked at him, his face revealing his shock at the dismissal.
Xander shook his head in annoyance. "Would you please move?"
Draco smirked, "American are we?"
"Obviously you aren't American, therefore 'we' aren't."
“Trite.” Xander rolled his eyes and tried to move past them. “Wait, you never told me your name.”
“I know,” Xander said.
Draco held out his arm to stop Xander from passing but magic quickly lifted him out of the way.
“Draco, let me make something very, very clear. I make a very bad enemy and a very good friend. So, do yourself a favor, Grow Up.” That said, Xander turned and walked away as Draco was magically lowered to the ground, very slowly.
Continue to Chapter 2: The Morning After